Diary of a Tummy Tuck

Considering abdominoplasty? One woman shares the nitty-gritty details of her journey from pre-surgery to recovery

Prep In the week before my surgery, I wanted to make sure I had taken care of everything. I filled my prescriptions (an antibiotic to prevent infection; Percocet for the pain; Lovenox to prevent blood clots; and a muscle relaxer and anti-nausea meds) and picked up a bunch of other things to help me with my recovery. Here's what my shopping list looked like:

-Arnica gel (to help with bruising and muscle pain)
-Vitamin C and Zinc supplements (to promote healing)
-Turmeric (to reduce bloating and swelling)
-Bromelain (to reduce inflammation and speed healing)
-Milk of Magnesia (to help with that first bowel movement!)
-Cold packs (for swelling)
-Compression garments
-Maxi pads and liners (for drain leaks and as a cushion between my body and the compression garment)
-Shower chair
-A walker (to help me get to and from the bathroom)